On Wednesday International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the eleventh since the United Nations designated 27 January for that purpose, was marked by commemorative events throughout the world. To participate in the occasion, the Israeli Embassy brought out Professor Dina Porat, chief historian at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and an internationally acknowledged expert in issues relating to contemporary Jewry and antisemitism. Our professional leadership had the opportunity of meeting and spending some time with her during her stay. The SAJBD has a long association with Prof Porat, mainly through the Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and Racism at Tel Aviv University, which she headed for a long time. We regularly provide the Institute with reports and statistics on antisemitism in South Africa, and in turn have found the comprehensive database it provides to be invaluable in assessing and evaluating the situation in South Africa compared with those of other countries.
Recent Articles
Above Board 27 August
Desperate Dangor’s antizionist rant
In recent weeks, the SAJBD has observed a rise in increasingly hostile efforts to challenge the perspectives of our community organisations and silence “mainstream” Jewish voices. In this case, “mainstream” Jewish refers to community members who are traditionally Jewish in observance (be it orthodox or progressive), and Zionist in orientation. Yet, the discourse has shifted, increasingly framing Zionism itself as beyond acceptable bounds, thereby deeming aligned groups inherently problematic. What stands out, however, is that the campaign against mainstream Jewry is increasingly desperate, incoherent, and too often driven by a quest for attention rather than substantive dialogue.
Unpacking Holocaust Inversion: A Deep Dive into Jewish Plurality and Ideological Battles
Unpacking Holocaust Inversion: A Deep Dive into Jewish Plurality and Ideological Battles
Above Board 21 August 2025
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending and presenting at Limmud, an event that over the years has truly become a cornerstone of our communal calendar. It stands as the most invigorating platform we have for exploring the rich diversity of Jewish views and topics that shape our community, dealing with issues that simply aren’t addressed with such depth and openness in any other forum.